Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, and his senior officials, who are familiar to this House. I thank the Minister for the recognition he gives this House in bringing legislation and being prepared to stay here for the duration of a debate as far as possible given his pressing schedule. The Ministry of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the most demanding Ministry, and I know that from personal contact with former Ministers in my constituency.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this serious issue. We must never lose sight of the sacrifices made by members of the Garda Síochána who have been injured or killed in the line of duty. In the Garda Representatives Association headquarters and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors there is a roll of honour for those who fell in the course of their work. I am partly nominated by the GRA, AGSI and the Association of Garda Superintendents, however that has not changed the respect I had for the Garda Síochána before I came to this House. I come from a law-abiding family whose respect for the Garda is unquestionable. In the course of its work defending the State and our integrity against an onslaught of a 30-year war across the Border, 32 gardaí have been killed. I recall the late Garda Dick Fallon, who died on 3 April 1970. I ask the Minister to make a short statement in the new year to clear the air on that case. There have been some strange and colourful statements on that episode and although the Minister has briefed members of the family, it would be good to discuss it in the public domain. In the new year I may put down a question on the Adjournment which may satisfy that.

Other gardaí killed in the course of their work include Inspector Sam Donegan, 8 June 1972, Garda Michael J. Reynolds, 11 September 1975, Garda Jerry McCabe, of whose case we are all aware, 7 June 1996, Garda Patrick G. Reynolds, 20 February 1982, Garda Francis Hand from my area of Kiltoom in south Roscommon, 10 August 1984 and Garda John Morley and Garda Henry Byrne, 7 July 1980. I was in County Roscommon when Garda Morley and Garda Byrne were shot after a bank robbery in Ballaghaderreen, and they were killed at Shannonscross defending our State. I know the families of both those young men and they were at enormous loss. Recruit Garda Gary Sheehan was killed on 16 December 1983 at Ballinamore. I will not go through the full list of 32, however this is an opportunity to outline to the young people in the Visitors Gallery the sacrifice of our Garda Síochána.

There is no point running away from the Morris tribunal situation. The ordinary rank and file and the sergeants, inspectors and superintendents would apologise for what has happened. It is an embarrassment and does not reflect on the high standard and integrity of the Garda Síochána. Young people have great respect for the Garda and I encourage them to do so because it is an unarmed force. The murders that have occurred in the past few days are cause for concern and if I were on the beat in those areas of Dublin city without being armed I would be concerned. Nevertheless, that is our tradition. A special section of the Garda is armed. I wish the Minister and the Garda Commissioner well in bringing to justice the people responsible for those dreadful murders.

The Abbeylara issue should be separated from the Morris tribunal issue. I am uncomfortable debating both issues at once because they are separate. The tragic death at Abbeylara has been dealt with in great detail. The Government ordered the report and was prepared to have a full investigation. The Garda was open to full scrutiny and that has been dealt with effectively. As a percentage of the force the number of gardaí who have erred is small. The Government will have increased the force to 14,000, an enormous number of people, by the end of this term of Government. We can compare this with the proportion of people who have erred in the church and the Oireachtas. We are all made of clay. We are human and errors occur. We must balance this error against the day-to-day sacrifices of the gardaí. They have confronted bank robbers, saved people from the River Liffey and risked their lives for the sake of the public. That is the message I would like to present.

I compliment the Minister. The only area on which we disagree is the Garda Reserve. The jury is out in that regard. The Minister is having a passing out parade on Friday, which is the fastest in the history of the State that gardaí, albeit reserve gardaí, have been put on the streets. We will agree to differ. The Government made up its mind to implement it and we will see how it works out. They are courageous young people to make themselves available to go on the beat without arms in these troubled times.

The Garda Ombudsman Commission, which is due to commence operations in the new year, is a major breakthrough. People have been talking about this for years, but since Deputy McDowell became Minister these initiatives are being implemented. Other initiatives include the establishment of the Garda Inspectorate under its chief inspector Kathleen O'Toole and her two fellow inspectors, the appointment of the four-person civilian expert group and the establishment of the local police committee, which was significant. People have not recognised the Minster's work in these areas. When it went through Committee Stage the Minister gave limited privilege to those committees, which is unheard of in this Legislature. No other councils have limited privilege.

I probably will not be here for the Minister's summing up as I have to be back for the Bill at 5 p.m. I hope the Minister will roll out all these committees throughout the country from January 2007. Councillors are willing and able to advise and assist the Garda locally and this is a great breakthrough. Those meetings would be held privately and attended by a chief superintendent or an inspector. The councillors, representing the people, would be able to point out areas of difficulty and the worries on the influx of drugs.

Drugs are the biggest single issue. All the murders in Dublin are linked to drugs and territorial wars. The drugs are coming in from South America, Africa and the Far East. Whatever funds the Minister can put into stopping the scourge of drugs will be well invested. No penalty is severe enough for those who destroy the lives of individuals through drugs. To get a person on the slippery slope is murder. I am a former chairman of the national drugs advisory committee. I am concerned about these small airports, which will have to be carefully watched. It is also possible to drop cannabis from a small aeroplane without landing, for example onto a bog at night with guiding lights. Certain elements are now involved in that trade. Policing committees will help because people have local knowledge and can offer advice.

I wish the Minister a happy Christmas and every success next year. I hope his party will be in Government with Fianna Fáil after the next election. I congratulate the Minister on his appointment as leader of the Progressive Democrats and Tánaiste.